Bishop Garrigan Has Some Landmines to Watch Out for in 1A-2

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/Screen-Shot-2026-02-09-at-7.58.00-PM.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/Screen-Shot-2026-02-09-at-7.58.00-PM.png?w=613" alt="" class="wp-image-3483384" /></a></figure>   The favorite: Bishop Garrigan has spent a large majority of the season ranked within the top 5 in Class 1A and looks like a pretty substantial favorite to roll through this district. The Golden Bears' two losses have come at the hands of 2A teams Western Christian and Forest City, and they've largely dominated their games against 1A competition this winter. Four players are averaging in double figures for Garrigan, led by junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2243086' first='Michael' last='Joyce'] (16.1, 4.1 assists). He's a talented, do-it-all wing who can take over games as a scorer, playmaker, and defender. [player_tooltip player_id='2731752' first='Amaury' last='Thomas'] (15.3, 13.3 rebounds) will be the difference maker in this district, as nobody else has an answer for him on the glass, while [player_tooltip player_id='1781875' first='Carter' last='Schwab'] (14.2, 5.8 assists) and Tate Foertsch (10.3, 6.8 rebounds) round out a really talented one through four.   The biggest threat: Nashua-Plainfield is in the midst of their best season in nearly two decades, posting a 15-4 record as of the time of this writing. The Huskies are headlined by their big three seniors - [player_tooltip player_id='2731860' first='Jase' last='Hansen'] (17.6, 53.3 FG%), Landon Foelske (14.6, 7.3 rebounds), and [player_tooltip player_id='2235353' first='Matthew' last='Malven'] (14.6) - each of whom is capable of taking over a game on any given night. They don't shoot it particularly well from the 3-point line, 29% as a team, but Foelske is a 39% shooter who can get hot and carry them for stretches from distance. A quick team that makes up for their lack of traditional size with their speed and athleticism, they've done a good job on the glass on both ends of the floor this season, but could run into problems with Thomas in a district final.   The dark horse: In senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2731685' first='Talan' last='Pletz'] (23.4), Janesville has one of the most explosive scorers in 1A on their side, and that makes them dangerous. Pletz is a 6-1 wing who can score from anywhere on the floor, and he commands a ton of attention on the offensive end of the floor, which has helped up things up for senior guard Isaac Jones (16.7, 43.2 3P%), who is having a fantastic final season in his own right. With Pletz's ability to play downhill and score, and Jones' ability to shoot it from 3, this is a dangerous offensive team that could give teams some problems.   Players to Watch 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2243086' first='Michael' last='Joyce'] (Bishop Garrigan) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731752' first='Amaury' last='Thomas'] (Bishop Garrigan) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1781875' first='Carter' last='Schwab'] (Bishop Garrigan) 2026 Tate Foertsch (Bishop Garrigan) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731860' first='Jase' last='Hansen'] (Nashua-Plainfield) 2026 Landon Foelske (Nashua-Plainfield) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2235353' first='Matthew' last='Malven'] (Nashua-Plainfield) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731685' first='Talan' last='Pletz'] (Janesville) 2026 Isaac Jones (Janesville) 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='3449826' first='Jarrett' last='Shear'] (North Butler) 2028 Wrigley Endelman (North Butler) 2028 Anthony Schnable (Saint Ansgar) 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2973695' first='Trey' last='Johanns'] (Saint Ansgar) 2028 Owen Smith (Riceville)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/Screen-Shot-2026-02-09-at-8.00.15-PM.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/Screen-Shot-2026-02-09-at-8.00.15-PM.png?w=617" alt="" class="wp-image-3483396" /></a></figure>   The favorite: Wapsie Valley got off to a sterling 8-0 start to the year before losing five out of six games, albeit all to really quality teams, including 2A teams Grundy Center, Aplington-Parkersburg, and Union, all of whom have spent a lot of time in the rankings this year. The Warriors are led by their dynamic tandem of senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2519981' first='Briggs' last='Boehme'] (20.0, 5.9 assists, 44.1 3P%) and forward [player_tooltip player_id='1884756' first='Tanner' last='Bergmann'] (15.9, 9.1 rebounds, 2.0 blocks). They have nice complementary pieces around them, with four others averaging between 5.3 and 8.5 points per game, but they're going to go as far as the Boehme-Bergmann duo will take them.   The biggest threat: The second-seeded team in the district is South Winneshiek, as as the #2 seed they'll get to host their district semifinal against either Dunkerton or Gladbrook-Reinbeck. The Warriors are a senior-heavy team led by [player_tooltip player_id='2520041' first='Matson' last='Winings'] (18.0, 7.4 rebounds), [player_tooltip player_id='1874773' first='Carson' last='Streeter'] (15.0, 5.3 assists), and [player_tooltip player_id='2520046' first='Braiden' last='Todd'] (14.9, 4.9 assists), while junior Jordan Einck (10.4) has given them a reliable fourth scoring option. This is a group that can score in bunches, but there are legitimate questions about the quality of competition they have faced in the Upper Iowa Conference. Nonetheless, with the firepower they have, and the ability they have to force turnovers, they should get through their first two games before running into Wapsie, who they lost by 17 to about three weeks ago.   The dark horse: Dunkerton is a bit down by their usual standards, but the Raiders have a ton of scoring power with four players averaging in double figures, and a potential fifth if leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id='3255148' first='Aidan' last='Hesse'] (15.0) is able to get back onto the floor. Admittedly, I'm not sure what his injury status is and he may be done for the year, but even if he's unable to go, they have four reliable scoring threats in junior [player_tooltip player_id='2396063' first='Braiden' last='Lauritzen'] (14.7), seniors Caybrin Schilling (13.6) and Colin Snyder (11.7), and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2796398' first='Shiloh' last='Schuety'] (10.1). They can score against just about anyone, but will they be able to defend well enough to make some real noise?   Players to Watch 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2519981' first='Briggs' last='Boehme'] (Wapsie Valley) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1884756' first='Tanner' last='Bergmann'] (Wapsie Valley) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2520041' first='Matson' last='Winings'] (South Winneshiek) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1874773' first='Carson' last='Streeter'] (South Winneshiek) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2520046' first='Braiden' last='Todd'] (South Winneshiek) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2396063' first='Braiden' last='Lauritzen'] (Dunkerton) 2026 Caybrin Schilling (Dunkerton) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2724155' first='Dawson' last='Grady'] (Cedar Ridge Christian) 2026 Logan Busta (Turkey Valley) 2026 JD Kruse (Turkey Valley) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3343976' first='Trey' last='Cota'] (Kee) 2026 Trevor Mathern (Gladbrook-Reinbeck) 2026 Hudson Clark (Gladbrook-Reinbeck) 2026 Jacob Woodson (Tripoli)   SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION   Bishop Garrigan vs. Wapsie Valley   If this is the substate final that materializes, it will be one of the better substate finals in 1A. Garrigan, despite being highly ranked all year, wasn't done any favors by the Association with Wapsie Valley being their opponent here. The battle between [player_tooltip player_id='2731752' first='Amaury' last='Thomas'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1884756' first='Tanner' last='Bergmann'] on the glass will be a ton of fun, but the all-around depth of Bishop Garrigan wins out here, sending the Golden Bears to the state tournament for the first time since finishing runner-up in 2020.